New power struggle engulfs ruling party

Mainstream members of the Millennium Democratic Party are engaged in a power struggle over the format of the next party convention.

The MDP's reform committee has proposed holding the convention in two stages, with the first taking place before President-elect Roh Moo-hyun is inaugurated on Feb. 25. At that first gathering party members would reorganize their delegates and party chapters.

Under the committee's proposal, another convention would be held at the end of the year to overhaul the party's executive branch. Representative Kim One-ki, head of the party's reform committee and Mr. Roh's long-time political affairs adviser, favors the plan. Representative Chyung Dai-chul, a member of the party's Supreme Council, is against the proposal.

Mr. Chyung's camp believes Mr. Kim is trying to buy time to make a run for leadership post, which he would be precluded from doing as head of the reform committee.

Mr. Chyung's aides have said they believe Mr. Kim's situation has led the committee to present such a plan.

Mr. Kim did not hide his hope of running for party chairman, but said his work on the reform committee is independent of those aims. He is reportedly unhappy about his appointment as political affairs adviser too, as holding a Blue House post would also leave him out of the race for the chairmanship.

Mr. Chyung and Mr. Kim are also divided over the fate of the current party leadership. Mr. Kim wants all members of the Supreme Council to relinquish their posts, but Mr. Chyung believes the resignation of Hahn Hwa-kap, the MDP chairman, is enough.

Mr. Chyung was runner-up in the April 27 MDP convention to select the party chairman. He would automatically succeed Mr. Hahn if he steps down.

Mr. Hahn shot back, saying those who are trying to exploit reform plans to dominate the party would help neither the MDP nor Mr. Roh. He said that true reform will only happen when members give up on their selfish interests.

Mr. Hahn, who had already said that he would step down, reversed his decision after the reform committee proposed the two-stage convention and called for his resignation. A close Hahn aide said the proposal seeks to eliminate anyone currently holding power in the party.

by Lee Jung-min, Kang Min-seok